Tag: deaf

Christmas 2013

by caste551, posted in Uncategorized

Before becoming pregnant with my son, I’d researched and contemplated having a child.  Most people tried to discourage me, or said I’d be a burden to him or her.  Some told me, and tell me, even today, I should tell him I’m disabled.  I don’t make a big deal about it and won’t tell him because I don’t think it matters.  I take care of him and love him and am his mom.  Those are the most important things, also, in the long run, he’ll know but, again, it doesn’t matter.

I’d heard about a little girl who signed her Christmas play for her parents, who happen to be deaf.  At the risk of sounding corny, this is one of the most loving things she could do for them.  It allows them the opportunity to fully participate in her extra-curricular activities despite their limitations.

This is just an example of children showing they love their parents despite their limitations.  For this reason, I don’t feel like disabled parents are burdens on their children, or that as a disabled person, you don’t have a right to have a child just because you’re disabled.

The last example I have of this is Shemar Moore from “Criminal Minds”.  His mother has Multiple Sclerosis.  He’s constantly trying to raise awareness about M.S. and make his mom’s life the best it can be.  No matter what level of ability the parent has, the child will love them either way.

Thanks for reading..

cr

A Movie Review: Miracle Worker

by caste551, posted in Uncategorized

This week’s movie review is about the early life of Helen Keller and how her teacher helped her overcome her disability.  I had read some things about Helen Keller when I was younger but, didn’t realize what an activist and advocate she had been in her lifetime.

There were a handful of messages I took from the movie that are important to me about being a person with a disability.  In today’s post, I am going to share some of them with you.

1.Pity – It was ironic to me how in the movie, Helen’s parents let her eat off of their plates by walking around the table and picking at their food with her hands.  This was because Helen’s parents did not think she could be taught to eat with everyone else at the dinner table.  On the other hand, part of what probably helped Helen succeed in her life was the fact that Ann Sullivan, her teacher, did not feel sorry for her.  In my opinion, the fact that her teacher did not take pity on her helped her become the activist she was later on in life.  I don’t ever believe in pitying anyone because of their disability, it serves no purpose and there is no real benefit to the person who is disabled.

2. Dignity– Because of her inability to communicate, I got the sense that Helen’s parents felt like she was more feeble than a baby.  On the other hand, her teacher knew that she could have the ability to communicate if she in fact worked at it.  She treated Helen in a dignified manner.  This is how everyone deserves to be treated.

3. Perseverance– Anne Sullivan, who was Helen Keller’s teacher and companion for most of her life,  believed in Helen even more than her own parents.  I know that Helen Keller lived before things like the Americans with Disabilities Act, so really, very little was expected of her but thankfully, she had Ms. Sullivan  who continually worked with Helen to help her unlock her actual potential despite the physical barriers she faced.

4. Independent Living Skills– To me, this movie demonstrates the first attempts at teaching a person with a disability independent living skills.  Helen’s teacher was able to teach Helen skills such as feeding herself and communication through the use of sign language.  In today’s world, this is not so uncommon.  There is more information and resources available that demonstrate how to teach independent living skills to people with different disabilities.

5. Faith– Sometimes, the person who has faith in us and ends up making a difference in our lives is not a parent or even a family member.  Maybe it is a friend or a teacher we have in school.  We may not even realize who or what makes us have faith in ourselves.  The important thing is to strive to do the best we can with what we are given and believe we can accomplish whatever goal we want to achieve.

These are just a few high points I got from the movie.  So far, both movies I have seen in doing this series for the blog have been really good.  I am hoping that the last two movies I picked illustrate people who are disabled in such a refreshing light as well.

Finally, I don’t believe in being ashamed of a disability as it seemed Helen’s parents were below the surface.  All we can do is face our obstacles head-on with our heads held high and find a way to overcome those obstacles in the best and most effective way possible.

Thanks for reading..

cr

Disability Rights are Precious

by caste551, posted in Uncategorized

I am really excited to introduce a guest post today. It is written by my former co-worker Chris Howell.

Chris is an independent corporate writer, video producer and consultant specializing in copywriting, online video, newsletters, grant writing and other forms of business communication. Chris has been writing since 1988 as a news reporter, web content editor, newsletter designer, and technical writer.

Chris started his career as a news reporter at WOSU-AM in Columbus, Ohio; covering such diverse stories as art exhibits, labor actions, and auto racing. After moving to Orlando, Florida in 1989, Chris served as news and promotions writer for business-formatted station WBZS-AM. Chris wrote and produced radio ads for local restaurants, retail stores and other service industries. Chris is the recipient of the Associated Press Best Breaking News award and the Denton Award for Best Documentary.  Chris received his B.A. in Journalism from the Ohio State University.

For five years Chris provided marketing communications and grant writing to the nonprofit Center for Independent Living in Central Florida, Inc.

Chris currently blogs about nonprofit communications at http://www.speakupnews.com/ and runs the communications company Howl Media Group LLC at http://www.howlmediagroup.com/.

Here is Chris’s post:

This month marks the 22nd anniversary of the signing of the American’s With Disability Act (ADA). The ADA is landmark legislation that helps define and protect the rights of people with disabilities in so many ways.  Let’s take a closer look at some of the details of the ADA .

The ADA says employers or other employment-related organizations cannot discriminate against a person with a disability.  For example, employers cannot  deny employment opportunities,  limit a job applicant, fail to make a reasonable accommodation or fail to promote an employee based on disability.

The ADA prohibits discrimination by local and state governments to access programs and services.  This applies to public transportation, public housing, public assistance and housing referrals.  One important application is to public education.

One of the better known provisions of the ADA deals with public accommodations. Under Title III, no individual may be discriminated against on the basis of disability with regards to goods, services, facilities, or accommodations of any place of public accommodation.  Public accommodations include most places of lodging (such as inns and hotels), recreation, transportation, education, and dining, along with stores, care providers, and other public places.  Private clubs and certain historic buildings are exempt from this provision.

Title IV of the ADA requires telecommunications companies to ensure equivalent services are available, specifically to the deaf and hard of hearing. With today’s technology, the deaf and hard of hearing can use computer-based video and text services which has greatly improved communication for those populations.

These are just some highlights of the ADA. The act is much more complex and has been amended over the years to detail additional rights. At this anniversary it’s important to recognize this law for the opportunities it has opened up for people with disabilities. The ADA is an important law but remember that as a person with a disability it’s your responsibility to know your rights so you can advocate for them when necessary. The fight for increased disability rights goes on.

Here are some websites with additional information on the ADA and disability rights.

U.S. Department of Justice Guide to Disability Rights Law : http://www.ada.gov/cguide.htm

National Disability Rights Network : http://www.napas.org/

Disability Rights Advocates: http://www.dralegal.org/

Disability Rights Legal Center: http://www.disabilityrightslegalcenter.org/

A heartfelt thanks goes out to Chris Howell for contributing today’s post to my blog.